by Greg
24. August 2010 09:09
Casey Grant will be taking part in this weekend's Mr Price SA Open in East London.
The Billabong Pro Tahiti, Teahupoo gets underway today, August 23, and the waiting period will run until September 3. Current World number 1, South African Jordy Smith, will have his work cut out for him in heat 8 as he comes up against 2001 World Champion and 2004 Billabong Pro Tahiti winner CJ Hobgood and event wild card Manoa Drolett who is a stand out at Teahupoo and has won the Air Tahiti Nui, Von Zipper trial twice.
Jordy will need to be on his game as C.J. can turn any wave into a good score out there and Manoa’s local knowledge is always hard to beat. The other South African Travis Logie will come up against Taylor Knox and Luke Monroe in heat 15 of round one.
Travis surfs great out at Teahupoo and he is in need of a good result here to stay in the top 32 cut off after this event so he will be looking to win this vital first round heat. Another great heat to look out for will be heat 10 with World Number 2 Kelly Slater along with his biggest ever rival, Andy Irons and hard core event wild card Heiarii Williams!
Rumours have it that Contest Director Luke Egan is keen to start today, 7:30pm our time with the hope of good 4-5 foot surf. It could be a long night ahead with some interesting heats on tap!
On the local front the Mr Price S.A. Open will take place at Nahoon Reef in East London this weekend. The 3A rated Pro Surf Tour event will be contested by a host of the country’s top surfers including Casey Grant, Greg Emslie, Warwick Wright and Devyn Matheys. The Surf forecast and weather looks good for the event and competitors will be fighting it out for the SA Open title next to their name!
On the One World Tour that is currently in Europe, Brazil’s Wiggoly Dantas won the 6 Star rated Sooruz Lacanau Pro in France defeating fellow Brazilian Aleio Muniz in the final. Dantas scored 3000 points towards the One World Ratings and received USD 20 000. The South African contingent had a shocker at this event with the highest placed surfer being Rudy Palmboom who finished 25th overall. The South Africans will have to step it up this week as the tour moves to Pantin Spain for the 6 Star rated Pantin Classic.
Good luck to all the South Africans this week.
Greg Emslie